01/11/07

When planning the session on reflection from the previous games, I found it relatively tasking to target one area in need of drastic attention. Due to the unfaltering performance of the team, and their professional displays, it became a case of working on the problems which individuals encountered, and inclusively exploring the solution.
After searching for areas which would benefit the whole team, it was decided that transferable skills such as shooting with accuracy, and short passing were to be the focus of the session. Luhtanen et al (2001) stated that in order to win a match, a team must have effective ways to win the ball, create successful attacks first by reaching the attacking third of the field, create scoring chances and to complete them by scoring goals with a high efficiency.
Although many games this season had concluded with large deficits in our favour, it was the opinion of the manager and I that several opportunities should have resulted in a goal. It was also our opinion that when in possession, many players off the ball were not offering the correct options to their team-mates, whereby their expectation of the player in question was to maintain possession of the ball when a simple pass would suffice, and invariably create an opportunity to shift the play.
During several sessions this season, the goalkeepers had been relatively neglected in terms of position specific drills, due to the absence of the goalkeeping coach. Therefore, it was thought that the shooting drill would provide the players with some much required handling and agility practice. The session was also the ideal chance for the outfield players who rarely attempted shots, to develop their skills without the pressures a match day delivers. The point made to the team, was that initially they were required only to ensure an accurate, flighted pass was made to the goalkeeper. The instructions also stated that once the pass was made, the player sprinted to join the end of the queue, with no time allowed to admire the pass. This instruction was included simply as it was a problem the manager and I had observed during previous sessions and games. The drill then progressed to shooting, with the emphasis being placed on the importance of ensuring the goalkeeper was made to attempt a save.
The response from the players was positive, and resulted in several of the less flamboyant, and ostentatious individuals developing the skill rapidly. Whether this was due to the fact that they had been afforded time, space, and an atmosphere which held no pressure, I was unsure of. However, all players ensured that they completed the drill with success, as the intention was hitting the target.
The session concluded with a confined game of 2 touch football, whereby playing a long-ball, or taking more than the allotted 2 touches, resulted in a free-kick. This restriction was implemented to hopefully eradicate the irrational distribution of the ball when under pressure. Behavioural training such as this can be very useful in developing the skills of novice performers (Vickers et al, 1999). It was explained to the players before, and during the drill that space progression was the responsibility of the whole team, and not only the individual in possession.
The session as a whole worked well, particularly due to the transferability of the skills worked on. The next training session, I would include a drill that looks more closely on the off-the-ball work, as the response to the conditioned game was of a high standard. To incorporate such a style of play to their game, would be a stage of progression that I would look at over the coming months, and hope to have implemented, and established by the close season.

Bibliography;

Luhtanen et al (2001) A computer aided team analysis of the Euro 2000 in soccer. International Journal of performance analysis sport (Electronic), 1, 69-77


Vickers, J.F., Livingstone, L.F., Umeris-Bohnert, S., Holden, D. (1999) Decision training: The effects of complex instruction, variable practice and reduced delayed feedback on the acquisition and transfer of a motor skill. Journal of Sports Sciences. 17, 357± 367